Flaring tool



Nov. 5, 1963 s.w.wo| co1"r FLARING TOOL 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 5,1959 INVENTOR.

GLENN WWOLCOTT ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,199,479 FLARINQ TUQLGlenn W. Wolcott, Dayton, Ghio, assignor to Penn Aircrgft Products,lino, Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of 0 io Filed June 5, 1959, Ser. No.818,333 1 Claim. (1. 153-79) This invention relates to tools for flaringtubing, and more particularly to tools for use selectively in formingeither single or double flares on tubing.

Many occasions for the use of flared tubing are found in industry, anotable example being in the construction of aircraft and the like whichemploy great quantities of metal tubing of diflerent sizes and differentmaterials in hydraulic control systems and similar installations.Furthermore, since it is important for such uses to obtain maximumstrength in the connections embodying flared tubing, it is preferred inmost cases that such tubing be double flared.

A double flare, in which the end of the tubing is folded inwardly toprovide a double thickness in the flared portion, may be convenientlyproduced in two forming operations. In the first step, the end of thetubing is compressed axially to form a circular rib having the generalconfiguration in cross-section of a reverse flare. In the second step,the end section of this rib is crimped or folded inwardly of the tubingto complete the double flare. However, separate forming operations arerequired for these two steps, and a difliculty in operations requiringdouble flaring of tubing of diiferent sizes is that although the secondstep in double flaring is readily performed by a simple conical flaringmember such as is used to form single flares, '& separate double flaringmember is required for the preliminary operation on each diflerent sizeof tubing.

(In the flaring tool of the present invention, double flaring isaccomplished by the employment of a disk having flaring dies formedtherein which may be selectively moved into operative registration witha firmly positioned hollow tubing for effecting the initial formation ofa double flare on an end portion of the tubing. This disk is normallybiased to a retracted position in spaced relation to the tube, and thetool incorporates a screw press for compressing the disk into a secondor operating position against the end portion of the tube to effect theinitial formation of the flare. The screw press preferably includes aflaring cone which is used for the dual purpose of operating the disk toproduce the initial double flare, and also of finishing the flare.

it is accordingly one of the principal objects of this invention toprovide a flaring tool as outlined above combining simplicity ofconstruction, compactness and a capability of forming either the singleor double flaring of hollow tube stock.

A further object of this invention is to provide a flaring tool asoutlined above including a unitary member upon which is formed aplurality of double flaring dies for selective use with tubing ofdiffering sizes.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a flaring tool asoutlined above wherein the unitary double flaring member comprises adisk which is rotatably and axially movably supported in a housing andwithin which is formed a plurality of dies each serially movable intoalignment with the end of the tubing.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description, the accompanying drawings, and the appendedclaim.

In the drawings- FIG. 1 is a plan view of a flaring tool constructed inaccordance with the invention;

FIG. 2 is a side elevational view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a fragmentary sectional :view taken generally along line 33 ofFIG. 2 showing the arrangement of the blocks for clamping the tube to beflared;

FIG. 4 is a bottom view of the tool of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a cross sectional View longitudinally through the toolgenerally along line =55 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a fragmentary sectional view through one of the clamping blockpins along line 6-6 of FIG. 4 showing the arrangement for locking thecap nut to the pin;

FIG. 7 is a detail view of the working face of the rotatable disk usedfor double flaring in the tool of FIGS. 1-6;

FIG. 8 is a detail view of the top surface of the disk of FIG. 7 showingthe index markings;

FIG. 9 is a fragmentary section of one of the dies taken generally alongline 9-9 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 10 is a view of the die of FIG. 9 showing a modifled form of thedisk;

FIGS. 11, 1 2 and 13 illustrate successive steps in forming a doubleflare with the tool of FIGS. 1-9;

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate successive steps in forming a single flarewith the tool of FIGS. 19;

FIG. 16 is a broken fragmentary view showing one form of connectionbetween the pressure pad and the clamping block compression screw in thetool of FIGS. 19;

FIG. 17 illustrates a modified form of double flaring disk member foruse in the tool of FIGS. 1-9;

FIG. 18 is a fragmentary section taken generally along line 1818 of FIG.17; and

FIGS. 19 and 20 illustrate successive steps in forming a double flarewith the disk member ofFIG. 17.

Referring to the drawings, which illustrate preferred embodiments of theinvention, the housing of the hand tool includes an upper body plate 111and a lower body plate 12. The plates 11 and 12 are similar in outerdimension one to the other and are fixed in spaced relation on bodysupporting bolts including a large stud bolt 13 at one end thereof. Thebolt 13 has threaded opposite ends 14 and 15 of reduced diameterextended through the plates 11 and 12 to form a shoulder against whichthe plates are secured by cylindrical nuts 16.

A pair of shouldered side bolts 17 and a shouldered center bolt 18 shownas of smaller diameter compared to the bolt 13 are also employed for thespaced support of the plates 11 and 12, and each has opposite ends ofreduced diameter extended through the plates 11 and 12. The lower plate12 is secured against the shouldered bolts 17 and 18 by cylindrical nuts19. The bolts 17 and 18, in turn, secure a cone housing 20 to the upperplate 11 and are extended through the upper plate for threadedengagement with the legs 23 of the: cone housing 20. A cone compressionscrew 24 having a handle 25 on the outer end thereof is threaded throughthe cone housing 20 for movement substantially normal to the plates 11and 12. The inner end of the compression screw 24 is connected to thetop of a flaring cone 26 by a snap ring 27. The flaring cone 26 isarranged for vertical movement in the housing 20 and through the upperplate 11 by means of an opening 29 provided in the plate 11 for the cone26.

Means are provided for selectively holding tubes of different sizes inalignment with the cone 26 for flaring, including first and secondsubstantially identical hexagonal tube clamping blocks 36 and 31. Theclamping blocks 36 and 31 include a plurality of semi-cylindrical jaws33 and are movable into clamping registration with each other to formtube clamps. The top of each of the jaws 33 is chamfered at 34. Thefirst clamping block 30 is mounted on the bolt 18, and the bolt 18 thusforms a shaft supporting the block 30 for rotation and limited Verticalmovement by lifting against the resistance of a compression spring 35. Adetent pin 36 in the lower plate 12, which is disengaged by the liftingof the block 39, provides for the indexed positioning of the jaws 33 ofthe first clamping block 39 with respect to the plate 12.

The second clamping block 31 is mounted on a clamping block pin 38between the plates 11 and 12. The pin 38 is extended through alongitudinal slot 39 formed in the upper plate 11 and a similarlongitudinal slot 40 formed in the bottom plate 12 to provide for therotational and longitudinal movement of the second clamping block 31. Acap nut 42, larger than the slot 40, is threaded on the pin 38 to form asliding fit between the bottom of the block 31 and the bottom plate 12.The cap nut 42 may be conveniently secured to the pin 38 by internalthreads 43 and a set screw 44, as shown in FIG. 6 just prior'totightening. The threads 43 are only partially extended into the pin 38,and the set screw 44 is driven home to expand the pin 38 within the nut42 and thereby to form a locking fit with the nut.

Means are included for effecting the longitudinal clamping movement ofthe second block 31 including a pressure pad 50 mounted on one end of acompression screw 51. The screw 51 includes an operators handle 52 andis threaded through the stud bolt 13 for longitudinal movement againstthe pad 50. The end of the screw 51 is secured to the block 50 by a snapring 53. An index pin 54 is positioned under the nut 16 on the upperplate 11 for assuring the axial alignment of screw 51 in the stud bolt13. A collar ring 56 is mounted on the pin 38 between the block 31 andthe upper plate 11 and includes an eye 57 into which a block returnspring 64) is connected. The other end of the spring 60 is fastened at apin 61 on the underside of the plate 11 and is tensioned to urge theblock 31 into engagement with the pad 50.

The blocks 31 and 31 include index information indicated generally at 64for identifying the size of tubing to be held within the jaws 33, whichindex information is visible through a tube access opening 65 formed inthe bottom plate 12. The first block 30 may be rotated to the desiredposition according to the size of the tube to be held thereby byrotating until the index information 64 is visible through the tubeaccess opening 65. The second block 31 is adjusted by first withdrawingthe pressure pad 50 and pulling the. block to disengage it from the padagainst the resistance of the spring 60 and then rotating the block 31to the desired position as viewed through the tube access opening 65.

Means are provided for effecting the initial double flare of an endportion 68 of tubing 69 within the clamping blocks including a generallycircular disk 70. The disk 78 includes a centrally disposed opening 71for mounting on the shaft portion of the center bolt 18 between thespring 35 and the upper plate 11. This arrangement provides forrotational and limited vertical movement of the disk 70 from a firstposition spaced from theclamping blocks 30 and 31 to a second positionin abutment with the clamping blocks against the resistance of thecompression spring 35.

Means are provided on the side bolts 17 for supplementing the action ofthe spring 35 in urging the disk 70 upward into the first positionagainst the lower surface of the plate 11. Referring particularly toFIGS. 2 and 3, a spring 75 is positioned over each of the side bolts 17,

and a collar 77 is slidably mounted on each of the side bolts 17 betweenthe disk 70 and the spring 75. The collars 77 engage the disk 70substantially at the periphery of the disk and combine with the spring35 to urge the disk 70 against the plate 11.

The disk 70 includes a plurality of annularly formed double flaring dies80 formed on the side 81 adjacent the clamping blocks 30 and 31. Each ofthe dies 80 includes an annular frustoconical working face 82 bounded onthe inside by a depending pilot portion 83.

disk 70 for the accurate angular indexing of the disk 70 in any one ofits several rotary positions.

.A centrally disposed hole 88 is formed through each of the dies 89,andrthe disk 70 is also provided with a large through hole 9t] of propersize to receive the cone 26 therethrough. The hole 33 may be chamferedif desired, at the upper surface of the disk 70 as shown at 88 in FIG.10 for the acceptance of the tip of the cone 26. A viewing opening 91 isprovided in the plate 11 for alignment with index information 92 on thetop of the disk 70. This index information 9.2 is provided for each ofthe dies 84 and the cone hole 90, and it is arranged diametricallyopposite to the designated die or hole for alignment under the viewingopening 91 concurrently with the engagement of the detent pin 84 in theadjacent recess 85.

FIGS. 11-13 illustrate the operation of the invention in the formationof a double flare. The disk 74 is first positioned by depressing itagainst the springs 35 and 75 to release the detent pin 84 and rotatingto bring the proper die 86' for the size of tube to be flared intooperative alignment with the clamping blocks 3% and 31. The die is inthe correct position when the fractional size corresponding to the sizeof the tube to be flared is visible through the viewing opening 91. Thetube 69 to be double flared is inserted through the access opening 65between the jaws 33 of the clamping blocks and into abutment with thefrustoconical Working face 82 of the die 80. The tube is then clamped inposition by the tightening of the screw 51 and is now in a gaugedposition for the formationof a double flare on the end portion 68thereof. 1

The disk 70 is then caused to be moved against the tube by bringing thecone 2 6 into coacting engagement with the disk at the hole 83. Themovement of the die '80 into a position in abutment with the blocks3tl31 causes an initial outward flare to be formed in theend portion 68between the working face 82 and the chainfer 34 as shown in FIG. 12. Thecone 26 is then retracted, permitting the disk 70 to be raised by thesprings 35 and 75 and then to be rotated to place the Cone hole inalignment with the tube, as indicated by the appearance of the word Conewithin the viewing opening 91. The cone 26 may then be brought down intocontact with the already flared end portion of the tubing to finish theflare as shown in FIG. 13. 7

FIGS. 14 and 15 illustrate the steps in the formation of a single flare,and this operation requires proper initial positioning of the tube 69 inits clamping blocks. For this purpose the invention employs the undersurface por tion of the disk 70 between the smallest die 8t) and thecone hole 90 as a stop gauge, and an indexing hole 95 for the cone 26 isprovided in this portion of the disk 70. The first step in producing asingle flare is to rotate the disk 70 to place the hole 26 in alignmentwith the cone 26. In this position, the legend Stop is visible throughthe viewing opening 91. The cone 26 is then brought down into contactwith the disk 76' at the hole 95 to cause the disk '70 to move from itsnormal position in spaced relation to the clamping blocks to its secondposition in abutment thereto. In this position, the disk functions as 'agauge for positioning the end portion 68 of the tube 69 for the singleflare. The tube 69 may now be clamped within the clamping blocks 3il-31with the end portion 63 in abutment with the disk 70 in this loweredposition. The cone 26 is then raised, and the disk 7t) is rotated toplace the Cone hole 90 into alignment with the tube, and the cone isthen lowered to form the single fiare as shown in FIG. 15.

FIG. 16 illustrates a modified arrangement for connect ing thecompression screw 51 to the pressure pad 5%. A threaded end 1% of thescrew 51' is provided with lefthand threads 161 which mate with similarinternal threads 182 formed in the rear portion 163 of the pad 58'. Thepad 59 is provided with an internal opening 1&5 into which the end 1% isreceived after passing through the threads 1%2. In operation, when thepad 58" is being pressed against the clamping block 31, there is nochance of the engagement of the threads 161 on the end 1% with theinternal threads 1&2. When the pad 5% is withdrawn, as by the retractionof the screw 51', the counterclockwise turning is such as to disengagerather than to engage the threads 1011 on the end 100 with the internalthreads 1812. By this means an effective operative connection is madebet-ween the screw 51 and the pad 58.

FIGS. 17 through 20 illustrate a modified form of the disk 11% which maybe used in place of the disk 71 The disk 110 includes a plurality ofannularly formed dies 111 and also includes a small Stop hole 113 and aCone through hole 114. The holes 113 and 114 on the disk 111) correspondto the holes 95 and 9% on the disk 70'. However, the dies 111 are ofdifferent configuration and include a beveled bottom portion 115 againstwhich the upper portion 68 of the tube 69 is to be initially flared, andfurther includes a beveled top portion 116- contiguous to the bottomportion 115 along a knife-like circular edge 117. The slope of thebeveled top portion 116 is such as to accept the cone 26 with a tipportion of the cone extending through the disk 110 when the cone 26 ispressed down against the disk 110 so that this tip portion of the conemay be utilized as a pilot in the formation of the initial flare shownin FIG. 20.

In the operation of the disk shown in FIG. 17, the tube to be flared ispositioned against the appropriate die 111, according to the size of thetube, as shown in FIG. 19. The cone 26 is then lowered into the openingformed by the edge 117 to cause the movement of the disk 11% from itsfirst position normally spaced from the clamping blocks to its secondposition in abutment therewith. This movement against the tube 69initially forms the outward flare in the upper portion thereof asdefined by the chamfer 34 and the slope of the beveled bottom portion115. The flare on the tubing may then be finished with the cone 26operating through the hole 114 as already described in connection withthe disk 70.

It is therefore seen that the present invention provides a flaring toolwhich is compact in construction, light in weight, and low in cost. Itis readily adapted for the accommodation of a number of different sizesof tubing merely by the selection of the appropriate clamping blockposition and the rotation of the disk to the appropriate position asviewed through the opening 91. There are no parts which may be lostthrough disassociation from the body of the tool, and it is universallyoperable throughout its intended range without the addition of anyaccessory parts.

While the forms of apparatus herein described constitute preferredembodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the inventionis not limited to these precise forms of apparatus, and that changes maybe made therein without departing from the scope of the invention whichis defined in the appended claim.

What is claimed is:

A flaring tool comprising a housing including a top plate and a bottomplate, a shaft secured between said housing plates, a first clampingblock mounted for rotation on said shaft and including means defining aplurality of half tube clamps on the periphery thereof, a secondclamping block supported for rotational and longitudinal movement insaid housing and including a plurality of half tube clamps movable intoselective registration with first block to support the end portion of atube to be flared, a disk supported for rotational and axial movement onsaid shaft with respect to said first block, said disk including aplurality of double flaring dies which are rigid with respect theretoand arranged for concentric registry with said half clamps in said firstblock, a spring on said shaft biasing said disk to a first positionspaced from said first block by a predetermined distance such thatengagement with one of said dies by a tube of the corresponding sizeinserted through said blocks establishes such tube in properly gaugedposition for double flaring, a compression screw carried by said topplate for effecting axial movement of said disk against said spring fromsaid first position to a second position in engagement with said firstblock while coacting with the end portion of a tube clamped by saidblocks to shape the same for double flaring, a pair of bolts connectingsaid plates and located on either side of said screw in spaced relationtherewith and with said shaft, and additional springs on said boltssupplementing the biasing action of said spring on said shaft tomaintain said. disk substantially parallel with said plates during saidaxial movement thereof.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,976,878 Eden Oct. 16, 1934 2,563,088 Wilks et a1 Aug. 7, 19512,595,036 Wolcott Apr. 29, 1952 2,662,575 Wolcott Dec. 15, 19532,711,772 Wilson June 28, 1955 2,774,408 Frank Dec. 18, 1956 2,852,839Wilson Sept. 23, 1958 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CERTIFICATE OFCORRECTION Patent No. 3, 109,479 November- 5, 1963 Glenn W. Wolcott Itis hereby certified that error appears in the above numbered patentrequiring correction and that the said Letters Patent should read ascorrected below.

Column 6, line 51 for "2,711,772" read 2,7ll 773 Signed and sealed this21st day of April 1964.

(SEAL) Attest:

ERNEST W. SWIDER EDWARD J. BRENNER Attesting Officer Commissioner ofPatents

